Terry Ryan Interview - Submit Your Questions

For our Offseason Handbook, I'm conducting an interview with Terry Ryan on Friday, right after he gets back from the organizational meetings. I'm gathering a list of topics and questions to prepare. If you have something you would like to know, submit it below. I can't guaranteed I'll ask it, or any of them, but it'll be on my radar as we talk through things.

Since the organizatinal meetings are going on right now, one question on my mind this week is exactly what goes on during those meetings? We get the general "we discuss all the players in the system" response, but if he would be willing to provide a bit more detail than that, I'd find that interesting.

Will the big new TV contracts in 2014 change payroll approach for the Twins in 2013. How will they affect the Twins and MLB long term?

e.g. Will that allow them to keep payroll somewhat higher in 2013 than it would have been otherwise. Does it change their payroll = 50% of income rule? Will they try to sign guys to extensions before that money causes inflation in contracts in a couple years?

I'd like to get a better idea of Ryan's mindset regarding starting pitching in 2013 and beyond, because everything he has said publicly thus far has been essentially generalizations (as is expected). So here's my question:

The Twins will spend approximately $27 million on player payroll at the catching position next season and $14 milion at first base. The position players, Mauer and Morneau, are expected to be among the best in baseball. Why has there been a reluctance by the Twins to field similar caliber talent when it comes to starting pitching, even if it means that you have to pay on the open market for such talent? Certainly it cannot be simply because the pitchers are not homegrown, or are more injury-prone than our own star players.

Given the difficulty of developing top-level pitching talent, isn't paying market value for reliable starting pitching (meaning pitchers that are superior in talent to "league average" pitchers such as Carl Pavano and "innings-eaters" like Jason Marquis) just the way that it has to be done sometimes in order to field a team that can at least win half its games?

I think it would be interesting if you can work in some questions if he has plans or preferences
regarding the expected logjam in the OF if the Twins best prospects start showing they are ML ready
while we still have the current group.

For instance: is the Muaer / AJ pattern to trade starters before the next player is ready preferable?
Or would he prefer to hold the current players until the new players are proven at the major league level?

You are the metrics geek, ask him about what metrics they use in their analysis of players. You will either be very happy, or others will finally be justified in their comments.In past years when making trades Ryan has found a good number of capable pitchers in other organizations. What does he look for that they other people are missing.

I'm still a little puzzled by his comments about Joe Mauer and 3rd base seeming like a "perfect fit". Could you figure out a way to artfully ask him if they have initiated (or will initiate this winter) discussions with Mauer about a move to 3rd (recognizing that it would probably be part-time for now).

I would like to know:
1. Does he have plans to bring in middle infield starters or competition for the current crop we have now.
2. Does he expect to be active in the FA market?
3. Does he think he can get enough starting pitching talent to make a fair assessment of Gardy and Rick Anderson at the end of next season?

I know all the immediate needs questions are going to dominate your in-box, but I think it would be
interestng to query Ryan on how he uses the bottom of the 40 man roster while the Twins have such high
waiver picks (again).

How much or how little an advantage (in his opinion) is it to have high waiver priority for 40 man rosters
moves (like Rule V and in-season waiver claims, not so much the draft which is more self evident)?

Was Mr. Ryan prepared or surprised by how high the waiver claim priority the Twins had for the 2nd entire
season? Did he feel he fully exploited the opportunities that came up?

Do any advantages from high waiver priorities decline as you have them for longer period of times, (like 2 straight
years)?